SEARCA in the News

A PROJECT to utilize waste from rice farms as biofuel has taken off the ground through a collaboration involving the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and three more entities. The Rice Straw Biogas Hub (RSBH) project also involves Straw Innovations Ltd., Koolmill Systems and Aston University in the United Kingdom. SEARCA Center Director Glenn Gregorio said this groundbreaking collaborative project aims to significantly reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) by transforming agricultural rice production residue and straw into clean energy resources such as biogas through cutting-edge technologies. According to SEARCA, the project will help reduce… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — The Young Agripreneurs Building Opportunities, Nurturing Growth (YABONG) Bootcamp, a collaborative effort between East-West Seed Philippines (EWPH) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), is set to conclude its latest session on May 9, 2024. The event will feature a pitching session, graduation, and an innovation fair at SEARCA in Los Baños, Laguna. The bootcamp, which started three months ago, selected 20 young farmers from a pool of 160 applicants across Luzon. These agripreneurs, nearly half of whom are women, manage farms ranging from half a hectare to 12… Read more

The Young Agripreneurs Building Opportunities, Nurturing Growth (YABONG) Bootcamp co-implemented by East-West Seed Philippines (EWPH) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) will close on May 9, 2024 with a pitching session, graduation, and innovation fair at SEARCA in Los Baños, Laguna. Twenty young farmers, selected out of 160 applicants from all over Luzon, joined the bootcamp to enhance their expertise in vegetable production and entrepreneurship. Almost half of them were women and their farms ranged from half a hectare to 12 hectares. They mastered farming techniques and learned to devise business strategies… Read more

THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), based at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), is putting a premium on strengthening the academe, industry and government (AIG) interconnectivity to boost agricultural transformation. SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio emphasized the pivotal role of partnership and collaborative relationships in accelerating transformation in agriculture during the first International Research Opportunities, Developments and Extension Outcomes (IRODEO) conference. Jointly hosted by SEARCA and Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology, the first IRODEO with the theme "Bridging Horizons: Integrating Knowledge for Regenerative Futures"… Read more

TO provide technical support to carbon farm planners and extension workers in Philippine rice-based farming systems, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has been offering a series of training activities. An endeavor in partnership with Newfields Consulting Ltd. (NFC), SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio noted that by offering carbon emission monitoring services, "farmers can gain insight into their carbon footprint." "Farmers can implement efficient strategies and play an active role in promoting sustainable agricultural practices," he added. With a plan to organize the fourth workshop in November 2024, he said the first of the… Read more

THE International Cultural Communication Center Malaysia (ICCCM) has introduced the International Transnational Education Association (ITEA) and discussed potential areas of collaboration with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). ICCCM International Department deputy managing director Benjamin Leong said ITEA and SEARCA have a lot of similarities. "Learning about SEARCA's mandate and offerings, we also shared ITEA's notable undertakings. We shared these notable undertakings such as advocacy for transnational education standards, professional development and training programs, global education partnerships,networking events and conferences, and scholarship opportunities," he said. ICCCM serves as secretariat to ITEA, a non-profit… Read more

MASBATE CITY — The Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology (DEBESMSCAT) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) co-hosted the very first International Research Opportunities, Developments, and Extension Outcomes (IRODEO) Conference held on10-12 April 2024 at the Masbate Coliseum. IRODEO is a nod to Masbate's famous rodeo festival and coincided with the annual horsemanship event. The inaugural edition of this international event adopts the theme "Bridging Horizons: Integrating Knowledge for Regenerative Futures," highlighting a forward-looking approach to global challenges. Dr. Glenn Gregorio, SEARCA Center Director, was the… Read more

Infrastructure serves as the backbone of economic activity, enabling the efficient movement of goods and people, facilitating trade, and enhancing overall productivity. Research indicates that every public dollar invested in infrastructure yields a substantial economic return. For instance, a 2022 analysis by the World Bank revealed that public investment has the highest multipliers, averaging around 1.5. This means that a dollar of public investment results in $1.5 of economic activity. Furthermore, infrastructure spending has been shown to stimulate long-term competitiveness, enhance efficiency, and create employment opportunities. It also helps in the growth of industries and businesses, which ultimately leads to… Read more

THE University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Center and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) recognizes the achievements of women creating opportunities for them to be part of the discussion and promote inclusivity, especially in the agricultural sector. This initiative, according to SEARCA director Glenn Gregorio is in partnership with the Philippines Partnerships for Sustainable Agriculture (PPSA). Recently, SEARCA and PPSA celebrated the achievements of women in agriculture at the BGC Community Farm by Urban Farmers PH in Taguig City with the theme "WE Can Do It: Empowering Women in Agriculture" Forum. The event was… Read more

Scholars and alumni of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) have gathered in Los Baños, Laguna to discuss the future landscape of agriculture on April 25-26, 2024. Titled "Cultivating Tomorrow: SEARCA's Insights for Agriculture's Future," the conference is jointly organized by SEARCA and the Regional SEARCA Alumni Association (RSAA), the network of SEARCA scholars who have completed their graduate programs. SEARCA Center Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio said the conference aims to showcase the research accomplishments of selected scholars as of academic year 2023-24 and raise awareness of their role in the future of… Read more